Two Discoveries Worth Mentioning (and several others that aren't worth mentioning)

Yesterday I drank and at at the Light Horse Tavern in Jersey City. I hightly recommend the brussel sprouts with pancetta side dish (sounds unappealing, I know, but it was amazing), the polenta, and the crab cakes. Really delicious food and each bite was a wonderful and worth-it experience. Atmosphere is also lovely and it was very crowded on a Monday night!



For lunch today I had a Lean Cuisine Four Cheese Pizza - you should definitely try one! It tastes like real pizza and doesn't get soggy in the microwave!





I am also getting into several reality tv shows this season. Nothing compares to I Love New York or Queen Bee, but I am really enjoying Real Chance of Love, Paris Hilton's 'My New BFF', Scream Queens, the Chef Jeff Project (not a mindless show), and Rock of Love Charm School. Worth watching. I actually got really angry at Chance last night after watching episode 2 of Real Chance of Love. Like I actually got worked up. I don't understand what any woman sees in Chance. He's good-looking, yes, and he's funny/entertaining, but why would you want to be in a relationship with this guy?? I wouldn't even want to talk to him in a bar; his personality is so unattractive!

Buttermilk Biscuits

I tried this recipe out yesterday sans the currents and the scone (basically they are buttermilk biscuits and not scones) came out wonderful! This is a great "base" recipe to use - you can add to it anything you like - rosemary, cheese, meats, etc. This is a great "side" to serve with dinner instead of store-bought bread as it's very easy to make and who doesn't go nuts for a buttermilk biscuit? And from scratch no less!!

What is buttermilk anyway? Milk that's gone off? I need to do some wikipedia research..

Next time I will decrease and possibly omit the amount of sugar - it didn't overpower the scone/biscuit but there was definitely a hint of it which I would change if I could do it over.



Buttermilk Scones
c.1997, M.S. Milliken & S. Feniger, all rights reserved


Ingredients

3 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup currants (optional)
1 tablespoon heavy cream, for brushing

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda in a large bowl. Add butter and mix with your fingertips to a coarse meal. Add buttermilk and mix just until combined. Add currants, if desired.

Transfer dough to a floured board and divide into 2 parts. Roll each to 3/4 inch thick rounds. Cut each round into 8 wedges and place slightly separated on a greased baking sheet. Brush the tops with the cream, and bake for 15 minutes, or until lightly browned. Serve warm, split in half with butter and marmalade.

Banana Muffins!

This is a fantastic recipe from Giada DiLaurentiis. I highly recommend!! Haven't tried them with the frosting yet.

I'd never want to hang out with her but damn does she know how to create a recipe!


Ingredients
Muffins:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
4 ripe bananas, peeled and coarsely mashed
Frosting:
3 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 cup mascarpone cheese, room temperature
3 tablespoons honey
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

Directions

Line 18 muffin cups with paper liners. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium bowl to blend. Beat the sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl to blend. Stir in the banana. Add the dry ingredients and stir just until blended.

Divide the batter among the prepared muffin cups. Bake the muffins on the middle rack until the tops are golden brown and a tester inserted into the center comes out with no crumbs attached, about 25 minutes. Transfer the muffins to a rack and cool slightly. The muffins may be eaten warm or cooled completely and frosted.

To frost the cupcakes: Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in the mascarpone cheese and then beat in the honey. Spread the frosting over the muffins. Sprinkle with the walnuts.

Tomorrow I am going to Hawaii and I thought I would make a blog. I hear Hawaii is amazing and beautiful and you will fall in love with it.



How do I post a photo? Oh, what is this little button over here...






MMMMM Mallomars!!!!

I am listening to Hot Chip and procrastinating about going to bed. I have to soak the my nails on my left hand in acetone some more.